Combination fin and heat pipe assembly

ABSTRACT

A combination fin and heat pipe assembly includes a heat pipe, and a plurality of radiation fins each including a fin plate, a mounting through hole in the fin plate that receives the heat pipe, an annular flange extending from one side of the fin plate around the mounting through hole and two opposing arched slots each cut through a part of the fin plate adjacent to a peripheral wall of the annular flange to partially separate the annular flange from the respective fin plate. The annular flange has the peripheral wall deformed on two opposite sides corresponding to the arched slots and forced into tight engagement with the periphery of the heat pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heat sink technology, and moreparticularly to a combination fin and heat pipe assembly, whichcomprises a heat pipe and a plurality of radiation fins press-fittedonto the heat pipe.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

In conventional heat sink designs, radiation fins and heat pipes arecommonly bonded together by welding. However, welding operation is notin line with environmental protection, and its process is cumbersome andcan produce a thermal resistance phenomenon. An improvement in thisregard is necessary.

Taiwan Patent No. 1270339 discloses a method for formingheat-dissipating fins by squeeze-shaping: providing a plurality ofheat-dissipating fins and at least one heat conduit; forming at least acircular protrusive wall with through holes on the surface of eachheat-dissipating fins or forming through holes with circular protrusivewalls of axial/radial dissected slot as well as buckling pieces disposedat two lateral sides; arranging the plurality of heat-dissipating finsby way of the buckling pieces to form a spaced-and-aligned fin set;disposing the heat conduit inside through holes of the heat-dissipatingfins; carrying out the squeeze-shaping process, that is, by way of aprocessing tool with a plurality of molding pieces and apressure-imposing technique, imposing a strong pressure on the surfaceof the circular protrusive wall of the heat-dissipating fins so as togenerate deformation and squeeze, making the heat-dissipating fins andthe heat conduit into an integrated object; and completing thefabrication of the heat-dissipating device. However, because this designsimply generates deformation on one side, it cannot achieve a high levelof connection tightness in a balanced manner.

In the above-mentioned prior art process of imposing a strong pressureon the surface of the circular protrusive wall of the heat-dissipatingfins so as to generate deformation and squeeze, making theheat-dissipating fins and the heat conduit into an integrated object, itis difficult to control the amount of deformation of the circularprotrusive walls of the heat-dissipating fins and the at least one heatconduit. The at least one heat conduit can be excessively compressed,causing damage or destruction of the internal capillary structure of theat least one heat conduit. If the amount of deformation of the circularprotrusive walls of the heat-dissipating fins is smaller than the amountof deformation of the at least one heat conduit, the circular protrusivewalls of the heat-dissipating fins will not be fully kept in contactwith the at least one heat conduit, and a clearance will be generatedbetween the circular protrusive walls of the heat-dissipating fins andthe at least one heat conduit. Thus, it cannot achieve a tightconnection effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is therefore the main object of the present invention toprovide a combination fin and heat pipe assembly, which comprises aplurality of radiation fins and a heat pipe. Each radiation fincomprises a fin plate, a mounting through hole in the fin plate, anannular flange extending from one side of the fin plate around themounting through hole, and two opposing arched slots each cut through apart of the fin plate immediately adjacent to a peripheral wall of theannular flange to partially separate the annular flange from therespective fin plate. The heat pipe is inserted through the mountingthrough hole of each radiation fin, and then the peripheral wall of theannular flange of each radiation fin and the heat pipe are partiallydeformed and forced into tight engagement with each other.

Preferably, the peripheral wall of the annular flange of each radiationfin around the mounting through hole and the periphery of the heat pipeare deformed on two opposite sides, keeping the peripheral wall of theannular flange of each radiation fin and the periphery of the heat pipein tight engagement with each other on two opposite sides in a balancedmanner.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral wall of theannular flange of each radiation fin around the mounting through holeand the periphery of the heat pipe are flattened on two opposite sides,keeping the peripheral wall of the annular flange of each radiation finand the periphery of the heat pipe in tight engagement with each other,achieving a tight fit effect of engagement on two opposite sides in abalanced manner.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral wall ofthe annular flange of each radiation fin around the mounting throughhole and the periphery of the heat pipe are deformed and inwardly curvedon two opposite sides, keeping the peripheral wall of the annular flangeof each radiation fin and the periphery of the heat pipe in tightengagement with each other, achieving a tight fit effect of engagementon two opposite sides in a balanced manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a combination fin and heat pipe assemblyin accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of the combination fin and heatpipe assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention before deformation of the peripheral walls of the annularflanges of the radiation fins.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the present invention, illustratingthe heat pipe inserted through the mounting through holes of theradiation fins before deformation of the peripheral walls of the annularflanges of the radiation fins.

FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 2, illustrating two opposite sides of theperipheral wall of the annular flange of each radiation fin having beenflattened.

FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 3, illustrating two opposite sides of theperipheral wall of the annular flange of each radiation fin having beenflattened.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, illustrating two opposite sides of theperipheral wall of the annular flange of each radiation fin having beendeformed and inwardly curved.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another alternate form of the presentinvention, illustrating radiation fins mounted on a flat oval heat pipe.

FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 8, illustrating two opposite sides of theperipheral wall of the annular flange of each radiation fin having beendeformed and inwardly curved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a combination fin and heat pipe assembly inaccordance with the present invention is shown. As illustrated, thecombination fin and heat pipe assembly comprises a plurality ofradiation fins 1 and a heat pipe 2.

The radiation fins 1 are arranged in parallel, each comprising a finplate 10, a mounting through hole 11 in the fin plate 10, an annularflange 111 extending from one side of the fin plate 10 around themounting through hole 11, and two opposing arched slots 12 each cutthrough a part of the fin plate 10 immediately adjacent to a peripheralwall 111 a of the annular flange 111 to partially separate the annularflange 111 from the respective fin plate 10.

The heat pipe 2 is inserted through the mounting through hole 11 of eachof the radiation fins 1.

After insertion of the heat pipe 2 through the mounting through holes 11of the radiation fins 1 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3), a stamping technique isemployed to deform two opposite sides of the peripheral wall 111 a ofthe annular flange 111 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5), forcing two oppositesides of the peripheral wall 111 a of the annular flange 111corresponding to the two arched slots 12 of the radiation fin 1 intotight friction engagement with the periphery of the heat pipe 2. Becausethe arched slots 12 partially separate the annular flange 111 from therespective fin plate 10, the arched slots 12 allow the two oppositesides of the peripheral wall 111 a to be easily deformed.

According to the present invention, two opposite sides of the peripheralwall 111 a of the annular flange 111 of each radiation fin 1 aresymmetrically and equally deformed and forced into friction engagementwith the periphery of the heat pipe 2, assuring a high level ofconnection tightness between the peripheral wall 111 a and the heat pipe2 without excessively compressing the pipe body of the heat pipe 2 orcausing any clearance between the peripheral wall 111 a and the heatpipe 2.

In the aforesaid embodiment, two opposite sides of the peripheral wall111 a of the annular flange 111 of the radiation fin 1 around themounting through hole 11 are symmetrically and equally flattened,achieving a tight fit effect of engagement on two opposite sides in abalanced manner.

In the aforesaid embodiment, two opposite sides of the peripheral wall111 a of the annular flange 111 of each radiation fin 1 around themounting through hole 11 are flattened and forced into tight engagementwith the periphery of the heat pipe 2. However, the invention is notlimited to this design. In an alternate form of the present invention,as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the peripheral wall 111 a of the annularflange 111 of each radiation fin 1 around the mounting through hole 11and the periphery of the heat pipe 2 are deformed and inwardly curved ontwo opposite sides, keeping the peripheral wall 111 a of the annularflange 111 of each radiation fin 1 and the periphery of the heat pipe 2in tight engagement with each other on two opposite sides in a balancedmanner.

Conventional heat pipes have different sizes and different shapes. Theinvention is applicable to round heat pipes as well as flat oval heatpipes. As illustrated in FIG. 8, two opposite sides of the peripheralwall 111 a of the annular flange 111 of the radiation fin 1 around themounting through hole 11 are symmetrically and equally flattened andforced into tight engagement with two opposite flat surfaces of the flatoval heat pipe 2 on two opposite sides in a balanced manner.

In still another alternate form of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 9, the peripheral wall 111 a of the annular flange 111 of eachradiation fin 1 around the mounting through hole 11 and the periphery ofthe flat oval heat pipe 2 are deformed and inwardly curved on twoopposite sides, keeping the peripheral wall 111 a of the annular flange111 of each radiation fin 1 and the periphery of the heat pipe 2 intight engagement with each other on two opposite sides in a balancedmanner.

The technical feature of the combination fin and heat pipe assembly ofthe present invention is unique and quite different from conventionaldesigns. By stamping a part of each radiation fin and the heat pipe ontwo opposite sides, the peripheral wall of each radiation fin around themounting through hole and the heat pipe are equally deformed in abalanced manner, assuring a high level of connection tightness andstability without excessively deforming the heat pipe.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination fin and heat pipe assembly,comprising: a heat pipe; and a plurality of radiation fins mounted onsaid heat pipe arranged in parallel, each said radiation fin comprisinga fin plate, a mounting through hole in said fin plate for receivingsaid heat pipe, an annular flange extending from one side of said finplate around said mounting through hole, and two opposing arched slotseach cut through a part of said fin plate immediately adjacent to aperipheral wall of said annular flange to partially separate saidannular flange from said fin plate, wherein the peripheral wall of saidannular flange is partially deformed and forced into tight engagementwith the periphery of said heat pipe.
 2. The combination fin and heatpipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of saidannular flange of each said radiation fin around said mounting throughhole and the periphery of said heat pipe are symmetrically and equallydeformed on two opposite sides and forced into tight engagement witheach other.
 3. The combination fin and heat pipe assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of said annular flange of each saidradiation fin around said mounting through hole and the periphery ofsaid heat pipe are flattened on two opposite sides and forced into tightengagement with each other.
 4. The combination fin and heat pipeassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of saidannular flange of each said radiation fin around said mounting throughhole and the periphery of said heat pipe are inwardly curved on twoopposite sides and forced into tight engagement with each other.
 5. Thecombination fin and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid heat pipe is a round pipe.
 6. The combination fin and heat pipeassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat pipe is a flat ovalpipe.